Shipped Yesterday.

[jetjaguar15]

No CT for me in the mail today either.

[Compound]

Still no CT in MT.

Roo, you're in Montana. Doesn't your mail gets delivered by Sherpa?

[pyro]

one person on CT forum got it

[RoninFox]

one person on CT forum got it

About time Joel got his copy 

[Isaac S.]

But doing this is pointless and makes you look like a Cry Baby. 

He's not being a cry baby, he's posting some well-deserved criticism of how this initial launch didn't exactly go as it should have.  I totally agree with Isaac S., and I don't see why you have to call him names.

Instead of complaining about Cinematic Titanic not having all it's ducks in a row, he was complaining about EZTakes not being professional.  Sounded like he just wanted to bitch because he hasn't gotten his dvd yet, and didn't want to blame Cinematic Titanic so he blamed the people with the least amount of control who haven't failed any obligations they have agreed to.  Frankly, I shouldn't have said anything against the status quo of COMPLAINING.  You guys just want to cry.  Do I wish I was watching the first Cinematic Titanic movie right now?  Yes!  Is this not a reality because of EZTakes?  No!  It is obvious why there are initial problems with the first release of this new experiment.  Read my other post (minus the offensive cry baby name calling  ), and you will see what I mean.  I apologize for calling you all cry babies. 

Wow, I can't believe this is serious.  You read it as complaining about EZTakes instead of CT.  Thanks for attempting to psychoanalyze me, but you failed.  You're right, if anyone failed to deliver on a promise, it was the CT people.  They dropped the ball in numerous ways (failing to secure download rights, failing to meet their original release date, failing to keep fans informed when those things happened, and the list goes on).  I just didn't feel it was necessary to address every topic about the release in my original post.  Generally, it's considered a pretty normal practice to narrow one's focus and deal with only one issue at a time.  I wasn't aware that intention had to be announced beforehand.  Not every post has to be seen as a big-picture thing.  If I talk about one thing, assume I'm only talking about that, and don't take my silence on all related topics to mean I don't recognize their existence.

And, seriously, lighten up.  I swear, I'm not camping out by my mailbox, crying myself to sleep every night and calling in sick every day so I can watch this the moment it arrives.  I don't expect "instant gratification," I merely expected orders to be fulfilled as they were received, which is what the DVD Wagon web site seems to imply is their normal practice.  Instead, they waited on them all to save a buck -- a buck they weren't planning on making in the first place.  It's simply not fair to read things into the statements made by those of us who haven't been crazy about the way this has been handled and then criticize us based on your assumptions alone.  Disagree with what we say if you want, but don't psychoanalyze instead of criticizing the ideas we actually spelled out.  I've been perhaps the most vocal critic about this, but I never attempted to blame EZTakes for every misstep along the way in CT's short history.  I just made some critical comments about the way they handled things.  They could have done better.

They did all right, but they could have done better.  Instead of impressing people by going above and beyond, they merely met expectations, which they intentionally set low.  I work for a company for which "I go above and beyond" is one of our "Basics," the things all of us are expected to do, and the company's been very successful as a result.   For Pete's sake, is that really so controversial?  I'm not stressing out about it as you assume I am; I'm just making observations.  EZTakes could have handled the situation better.  Is there even a debate about that?  Does anyone truly think they did everything absolutely perfectly, and there's not a single thing they could have improved upon?  Not even one thing?  No one said they should be all executed for their crimes against humanity; they simply could have done better than they did.

Sheesh.

And I'm officially done with that.

[bettertomorrowamy]

Calm down.  I'm just goofing on you.

[Isaac S.]

If nothing else, it should show you just how much of a ripoff it is to pay $30 for a new DVD, a company like EZTakes proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can pump them out for about 28 cents a pop, with minimal staff. The only thing REALLY standing between cheap entertainment for the masses and the current status quo are heinously outdated copyright and intellectual property laws.

Truthfully, the thing standing between the status quo and cheap entertainment is the law of supply and demand.  If people will pay $30 for a DVD (and, honestly, though, who's charging that much anymore?), there's no reason the price should be lower.  Prices that are too low ultimately just create dissatisfaction via shortages when supply can't keep up with the demand.  See the Wii launch.  Heck, see your local Best Buy right now and try to find a Wii.  (And then if you find one, sell it to me on eBay for $100 more than you paid.)

Standard price for new releases in Canada (despite the fact that our economy is doing better than yours, you bastards ) is $24.95 to $26.95, plus our famous insane sales tax, brings it up to right around $30 (and economics rules dictate that any portion of sales tax paid by the consumer is to be considered part of the cost for supply and demand purposes).
...
It is always greed that causes companies to mark their price up higher than the market price would actually be at equilibrium. The only reason the laws of supply and demand are starting to break down in the modern age is because there are enough stupid people around to be duped into believing what the companies tell them ought to be a fair price.

Ah, Canadian dollars.  Guess I should pay attention to those little flags on the left, huh?  Man, that does suck.  But, to be honest, if people really wanted those prices to come down, they'd stop buying them at those prices.  That's just the way the market works.  People pay it, so that's what it's worth to them.  If it wasn't worth that to them, they wouldn't pay it.  The law of supply and demand isn't breaking down; that is the law of supply and demand.  And these companies own these things, by the way; nobody's entitled to them.  They're not communal property, you know?  They have every right to set their own prices and consumers have every right to buy or not buy them based on the price they set and the value they each assign to them as individuals.

Thanks for pointing out that sales tax is part of the price.  You're right.  But it's not just sales tax, either.  It's corporate taxes, too.  Those taxes "on corporations" are really just more taxes on individuals.  All taxes are paid by individuals.  Corporations don't manufacture money; they get it from consumers, and any taxes on corporations just get paid by consumers because it's reflected in the price (or, alternatively, by lower pay than their employees would otherwise get -- whether that's high-ranking people or front-line guys or some combination of the two, those individuals are paying the tax, ultimately).  "Embedded taxes," they call it.

Glad to see some people around here can have civil disagreements, by the way.

Oh, wait, I was done with that, right?  Okay, now it's officially done.

[Chaos]

"Every time I think I'm out, they pull me back in."

Your point about S&D is correct. I should have been more specific... rather than making a general statement that S&D have been broken, I should have said that companies have found new ways in the modern age to convince stupid people that they can afford and should pay higher prices for things that they don't actually need, but the corporations have convinced them that they do need. While this is still technically supply and demand, it's manipulating the system in a way you don't normally see... gullability and lack of intelligence on the part of the average consumer has allowed corporations in traditionally price taking markets to start to impose their own influence and dictate prices.

Also, because of copyright laws that are granting more and more power to the "intellectual owners," what we really have on our hands are thousands of little tiny niche monopoly markets that are legally sanctioned by the government, that are not viewed as monopolies by most. Take Nintendo and the Wii as an example. While it is true that there are multiple "next gen" platform systems available, the Wii is nevertheless unique among the 3... the other 2 systems are only partial substitutes for what the Wii offers. Add in the exclusive licenced characters that Nintendo has, and that is more monopoly power. Because of this monopoly on that particular form of entertainment, Nintendo is able to sell their core system for a profit - something that most gaming companies are not able to do.

They're also not providing as many systems as people want (they cleverly say they are having trouble keeping up with demand, but the reality is that they are controlling the supply by not turning more resources to producing systems), which allows the price to remain high. IF the other gaming systems on the market offered a true substitute for the Wii, Nintendo would not be able to do this because people would buy the alternatives. And if it were not for copyright laws, other companies would produce systems with near-identical technology and sell them to those demanding the Wii, bringing the overall price down to where it SHOULD be in a competitive market (you can see this price reduction in effect with the PS3 and the 360, since they ARE near perfect substitutes... their competition with each other to secure sales has brought the price of both systems down a little). What Nintendo has done to create themselves a monopoly within a competitive market is pure genius in terms of manipulating the market, and excellent for their profit margin... but that doesn't make it the right price or volume sold for the market itself. Without those barriers, more similar systems would be on the market and the price would be lower.

But anyway... enough about that. Has anyone ACTUALLY gotten their DVD from the Amish delivery wagon yet?

[pyro]

Looks like at least 3-5 people on the CT forum already got it....  I emailed DVD Wagon asking how they sent it and the main part of it is:

The DVDs are shipped via standard USPS. It should be delivered in 2-3
days, so most people should receive it on Saturday or maybe Monday.


Guess I should mention this part too though:

It would be helpful for us if you let us know when you receive your order.
We can use this feedback to make sure that the shipping is timely.

[MrTorso]

But anyway... enough about that. Has anyone ACTUALLY gotten their DVD from the Amish delivery wagon yet?

Nope.

[Sheik Yerbouti]

But anyway... enough about that. Has anyone ACTUALLY gotten their DVD from the Amish delivery wagon yet?

Nope.

Okay now I'm a little annoyed.  I just checked my email, I never did get a shipping confirmation, just an email saying that I WOULD get a shipping confirmation.  So I went back to DVDchuckwagon and now it says my DVD will ship in 'approximately five business days'.  And I ordered on December 21st.  Bah.

[Isaac S.]

Your point about S&D is correct. I should have been more specific... rather than making a general statement that S&D have been broken, I should have said that companies have found new ways in the modern age to convince stupid people that they can afford and should pay higher prices for things that they don't actually need, but the corporations have convinced them that they do need. While this is still technically supply and demand, it's manipulating the system in a way you don't normally see... gullability and lack of intelligence on the part of the average consumer has allowed corporations in traditionally price taking markets to start to impose their own influence and dictate prices.

Obviously we'll have to agree to disagree.  We just have two incompatible ways of looking at the system.  There is no way to manipulate supply and demand.  People are individuals and make decisions about what they will pay for things individually.  Nothing wrong with that.  Corporations dictate prices because they own what's being sold.  Nothing wrong with that.  If I put something on eBay, I decide the starting bid price, or the Buy It Now price, which is probably a more apt illustration.

Also, because of copyright laws that are granting more and more power to the "intellectual owners," what we really have on our hands are thousands of little tiny niche monopoly markets that are legally sanctioned by the government, that are not viewed as monopolies by most. Take Nintendo and the Wii as an example. While it is true that there are multiple "next gen" platform systems available, the Wii is nevertheless unique among the 3... the other 2 systems are only partial substitutes for what the Wii offers. Add in the exclusive licenced characters that Nintendo has, and that is more monopoly power. Because of this monopoly on that particular form of entertainment, Nintendo is able to sell their core system for a profit - something that most gaming companies are not able to do.

I guess this is a reference primarily to patents?  I have issues with patent laws as well.  You're right, the market can't work properly if people aren't free to learn and use technology that's already been developed.  While it makes sense that a company can own characters and works, I'm not sure it makes sense that they can own a technology.  What if someone had patented the wheel?  Would their ancestors be our only source for wheels even today?  If so, then the price would certainly be artificially high.  But then, I can see the arguments for it, too.  So I'm kind of torn on that one.

But I hope your reference to their characters doesn't mean you think anyone should be able to use them how they see fit.  From an artist's perspective, that's a horrifying idea.  If I create something, I need to know that anyone can't just take my creation and run it into the ground.  I want to be the one to run it into the ground. 

They're also not providing as many systems as people want (they cleverly say they are having trouble keeping up with demand, but the reality is that they are controlling the supply by not turning more resources to producing systems), which allows the price to remain high. IF[/b[ the other gaming systems on the market offered a true substitute for the Wii, Nintendo would not be able to do this because people would buy the alternatives. And if it were not for copyright laws, other companies would produce systems with near-identical technology and sell them to those demanding the Wii, bringing the overall price down to where it SHOULD be in a competitive market (you can see this price reduction in effect with the PS3 and the 360, since they ARE near perfect substitutes... their competition with each other to secure sales has brought the price of both systems down a little). What Nintendo has done to create themselves a monopoly within a competitive market is pure genius in terms of manipulating the market, and excellent for their profit margin... but that doesn't make it the right price or volume sold for the market itself. Without those barriers, more similar systems would be on the market and the price would be lower.

Well, first, as you know, that's an unsubstantiated statement.  Neither of us knows what goes on behind closed doors at Nintendo.  Perhaps there are other factors we can't see, such as capability for manufacturing at different plants and such.  If the demand is so high (and it is), they could be selling a lot more Wiis at the current price point right now, so there's no reason they shouldn't be meeting demand if they're capable of it.  And they wouldn't have to lower the price because the demand for it at the current price is so high.  Perhaps if there was a "true" alternative, they'd have to lower the price, but as it stands, there's no reason at all for them to do that.  I just find that conspiracy theories about "monopolies" don't hold water when examined more closely.  The market still works because there are other alternatives -- and not just in video gaming.  I could spend my $150 on DVDs or any other form of entertainment instead of a Wii, too.  And, again, if they wanted to make more money, they'd meet demand because it's high enough that they could sell the system for the current price.  Otherwise, it wouldn't be selling for more than that on eBay.  The evidence doesn't line up with that theory.

Further, if they were trying to manipulate supply to keep prices up, they'd have set the price higher to begin with.  The market could easily accommodate a Wii that's closer in price to the 360, as the eBay prices indicate.  If it was more than the other systems, as it goes on eBay, you'd probably begin to see demand wane a little too fast, but if it was still cheaper, but not that much cheaper, they'd have had a better price point and the shortages wouldn't have been quite so bad.  I guess that's more theory than reality, though.  Still, if they wanted to keep prices artificially high, they could have set them much higher, and instead of eBay sellers making the big money on Wiis, Nintendo could have made at least a bigger percentage of it.

But, bottom line, again: If people didn't think a Wii was worth $150, they wouldn't pay it, and then the price would come down for sure.

But anyway... enough about that. Has anyone ACTUALLY gotten their DVD from the Amish delivery wagon yet?

You're right, I'm done.  Promise.   Get me started writing and I never stop.  Moving on...

I haven't checked the mail yet today.  Let's all keep our fingers crossed for each other!

[RVR II]

Mine Just Arrived (in a paper disc sleeve )!
THX Again to PSL for placing my order!!!
I'll check it out ASAP!

[Courtney]

Got mine yesterday, but I was out of town for the night.  And now I shall devote the day to watching and get back to you with my findings.   

[Bob]

Mine Just Arrived (in a paper disc sleeve )!
THX Again to PSL for placing my order!!!
I'll check it out ASAP!

*As I and my dog look out the front window sadly waiting for mailman to arrive*